Plan set #77-CBuild a 1:20.3-scale dock for a lobster boatby Ted Stinson | Wiscasset, Maine
Lobstering became a profitable industry in the 20th century and whole docks were built to handle the trade. Virtually every har-bor in Maine has at least one dock that services the boats of the lobstering industry.The dock presented here is based on the town dock in Wiscasset Harbor. I have made it a bit smaller than the prototype to
better fit the typical garden railway. Here in Maine there is a 10-foot tide, so a float is required for the boats to tie up to. This, in turn, requires a ramp that leads from the float to the fixed dock. In the corner of the dock nearest the float is a crane, used to load and unload the boats. Though the dock in Wiscasset does not have a building on it, most docks used by lobstermen have some sort of structure. This may serve a number of purposes, including an outdoor eatery (featuring lobster, shrimp, clams, etc.), a retail fish market, or a wholesale fish and lobster dealer, just to name a few.
Constructing the dockRefer to the plan. The drawing shows a side and front view. First, stain any wood to be used in the construction with a driftwood-colored stain. The dock shown is to be placed on a concrete paver set about 1" under the surface of the water. That way, the dock can be easily built to fit on a flat surface and it is removable.
Begin by cutting the ¾"-square girders. Drill ½"-diameter holes in the girders to accept the ½"-diameter piers (pilings). Glue the piers in place. Cut, fit, and glue the 3⁄16" x 5⁄16" diagonals in place on each set of girders. When the glue has set, drill pilot holes for the #18 x ½" escutcheon pins. Fit and glue the pins in place.
Now cut several 5⁄16" x ¾" joists. Set a pair of these on a flat surface and glue the girder/pier assemblies in place (upside down), with the joists located at the ends of each girder. With the end joists glued in place, you can add the intermediate joists.
By this time the whole things should be quite strong, so cut, fit, and glue in place, on each girder, the diagonals that run between the piers. When the glue has set, add the escutcheon pins. Turn the dock right side up and plank the deck with 3⁄16" x 3⁄4" strips. Finally, add the 5⁄16" x 5⁄8" rail along the front and sides of the dock.
The float and rampI would want the float and the lobster boat to sit on a concrete paver located just below the water’s surface. You can build the float around a 1"-thick block of foam or wood. The ramp can be built around a 3⁄8"-thick piece of wood, 17⁄16 " x 6 7⁄16" long. The dock should have a crane for unloading. Make one according to the drawing. It should be painted black and be glued in place.
The last detail is the building. I have shown the substructure for a typical building. Surface details, such as windows, doors, siding, and roofing are up to you. A restaurant would get top-of-the-line materials, while a wholesale fish dealer might settle for rough-sawn lumber siding and a tar-paper roof.
Add whatever details you wish—a stock of old traps, barrels of bait, picnic tables, trash barrels (made from 55-gallon drums), and, of course, some lobstermen. It is not the sort of model I’d want to leave out in the weather, so make it moveable. You’re done.
* * * This sheet is a supplement to the October 2006 issue of Garden Railways magazine. While supplies last, extra copies of these draw-ings can be had by sending $1.50 per set ($2.00 foreign) to: Sidestreet Bannerworks, PO Box 460222, Denver CO 80246 USA. A complete list of available plans can be found at www.sidestreet.info, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the above address.
Please note: Since this project can mostly be done with a table saw, no kit is being offered. If you’d like to contact Northeast Narrow Gauge, the company’s address is PO Box 191, Wiscasset ME 04578. Web site: www.nemodel.com
NOTE This will be the last pull-out plan set to appear in the print version of Garden Railways magazine. We will continue to publish the plans, but they will be avail-
able online only. You can find them at our web site: www.gardenrailways.com. While supplies last, previously published paper plans will continue to be available from Sidestreet Bannerworks.
Are you working in a different scale?If you are working in 1:32 scale, reduce these drawings to 63%.If you are working in 1:29 scale, reduce these drawings to 70%.If you are working in 1:24 scale, reduce these drawings to 88%.If you are working in 1:22.5 scale, reduce these drawings to 90%.If you are working in 16mm scale, enlarge these drawings to 107%.If you are working in 1:13.7 (7⁄8") scale, enlarge these drawings to 148%.
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Float Construction Detail
1⁄ "
6" x 3⁄16"6" x 1⁄8"
" sq.
6" x 3⁄16"
" x 3⁄8"
hinge
NOTE This will be the last pull-out plan set to appear in the print versRailways magazine. We will continue to publish the plans, but
able online only. You can find them at our web site: www.gardenrailways.comlast, previously published paper plans will continue to be available from Sides
out plan set to appear in the print version of Garden will continue to publish the plans, but they will be avail-ur web site: www.gardenrailways.com. While supplies
will continue to be available from Sidestreet Bannerworks.
